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Olaniyan Scholars Program

Olaniyan Scholars Program

The Olaniyan Scholars Program is a performance-based scholarship directed toward academically talented incoming first-year, continuing IU Indianapolis, or incoming transfer students. The program allows students to continuously engage in faculty-mentored research, primarily in the Humanities and Social Sciences, while continuously pursuing their degree at IU Indianapolis.

Open to undergraduate students from all IU Indianapolis schools, the Olaniyan Scholars program promotes the development of scholarly excellence through academic activities, undergraduate research, community engagement, and study abroad experiences.

Students enter a highly structured course of study focusing on the lives, history, traditions, interests, and communities of people of African descent. They enroll in specially designed academic courses and can participate in study abroad experiences that expand their studies beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Olaniyan scholars work with full-time faculty mentors to develop a research project that they can then present at conferences, symposiums, and undergraduate research forums. Community engagement is strongly encouraged, which allows scholars to work with community partners to enrich the lives of people of color in Indianapolis.

This close-knit, like-minded community of undergraduate students benefits from individual support, research activities, faculty mentoring, and scholarship funding that leads to graduation with a four-year degree.

The program is open to students of all races, nationalities, and backgrounds. However, priority consideration will be given to first-generation students underrepresented in higher education majoring in the Humanities and Social Sciences (or the IU School of Liberal Arts). Awards are based on availability and applicants’ qualifications. A scholar may continue in the program for up to 4 years if he/she maintains a cumulative 3.3 GPA.

You’re invited to join the Olaniyan Scholars, where you will:

Engage in research work with a full-time faculty member
Gain insights on a global level by studying abroad
Benefit from an engaged community of scholars dedicated to the humanities and social sciences
Receive strong support for learning, research, and community engagement

Requirements

The Olaniyan Scholars Program provides four-year awards to assist in covering tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and other expenses associated with the cost of full-time attendance at IU Indianapolis. It may also be used to cover educational expenses that might otherwise be covered by student loans.

To apply, you must be enrolled full-time at IU Indianapolis and majoring in any subject.

Award includes:

The value of full in-state tuition while attending IU Indianapolis, renewable for up to four years (eight semesters for incoming first-year students and up to six semesters for incoming transfer or current IU Indianapolis undergraduates).
$2,000 living stipend, renewable for each academic year

Priority will be given to first-generation, underrepresented Indiana residents.

International and out-of-state students must make special arrangements to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state costs; students should discuss options with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at (317) 274-4162.

To be considered for an Olaniyan Scholars scholarship, students must complete an application for admission to IU Indianapolis and a separate Olaniyan Program Online Application.

Incoming first-year students and transfer students pursuing their first undergraduate degree who meet regular IU Indianapolis admission requirements and have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, are invited to apply.

All applicants are required to complete this Olaniyan Scholars Program Online Application by February 15. However, applications are accepted after this deadline depending on scholarship availability.

Required supporting documents to be uploaded with the online application:

Transcript
An official high school transcript or GED is required for beginning students. If you are a transfer student, an official university transcript from previous institutions of higher learning is also required.
Recommendation Letters
Applicants must provide at least two (and no more than four) letters of recommendation. At least one letter should address academic performance or aptitude and at least one letter should address extracurricular and/or community service activities. Letters may be from teachers, guidance/academic counselors, school administrators, coaches, and/or community contacts. Please ensure that they include their full names and contact information.
Essay

Please use the following guidelines when preparing your essay:

Observed general rules of English grammar with no misspellings.
All questions must be answered, in any order.
Essay should be double-spaced, organized, and well-structured using complete sentences and the 5-paragraph essay structure.
Include your name and a page number on each page. Cover pages or plastic report covers are not necessary and will be removed during the review process.

You are required to address each the following questions in your essay:

What is your specific area of interest as it relates to people of African descent and why do you want to study them? How does this interest fit into your career and personal goals?
What is your planned major at IU Indianapolis and how would you connect it to Africana Studies (or the study of people of African descent)?
What are your demonstrated achievements, service, and/or learning goals (including classes/books studied or read, or academic work completed) that illustrate your commitment to and interest in people of African descent? Please include your active participation in academics, extracurricular, and community service activities.

Interview

Selected scholarship candidate interviews will be conducted in-person or online. If you live outside the state of Indiana, you may request an online interview with the selection committee.

Other Relevant Data

Please explain any extenuating circumstances that you would like to be taken into consideration during the scholarship selection process in a separate document and include in your application packet submission.

Program benefits

The value of full in-state tuition while attending IU Indianapolis, renewable for up to four years (eight semesters for incoming first-year and up to six semesters for incoming transfer or current IU Indianapolis undergraduates). To be used for tuition, fees, housing, or other costs associated with and up to the cost of attendance. It may also be used to cover educational expenses that might otherwise be covered by student loans.
Annual $2,000 living stipend.
The opportunity to engage in research work with a full-time faculty member.

Curriculum

In addition to the credit hour requirements for your baccalaureate degree when you were admitted, scholars are required to complete a minor in Africana Studies. Completion of 15 credit hours or 5 (3 credit) classes, can be completed before or during the 4 years a student participates in the Olaniyan Scholars Program.

Core courses

AFRO A140: Introduction to African American and African Diaspora Studies (3 credits)
AFRO A200: Research in African and African Diaspora Studies (3 credits)
One of the following courses: (3 credits)
- AFRO A152: Introduction to African Studies
- AFRO A306: Globalization, Struggle, and Empowerment in the African Diaspora
And 6 credit hours from a list of electives in the Africana Studies Program or cross-listed with other departments/Programs. (If there is a course you wish to take that is not already cross-listed with Africana Studies, please see the Program director for permission before you take the course).

Elective courses

In addition to the core courses, you may select from elective courses that are divided into three areas of concentration, Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, and North America. New courses may be added as approved electives with approval from the director of Africana Studies, as they become available.

Students may also consider majoring (or double majoring) in Africana Studies, making it easier to fulfill the terms of study of the Olaniyan Scholars Program. However, majoring in Africana Studies is not a requirement to maintain good standing in the program.

Research Projects

During each academic year of the four-year program, scholars are required to progress a research project with the help of faculty mentors. During the first two years of the program, scholars will be assigned a faculty mentor and research project. During a scholar's last two years in the program, she/he may choose to continue with this research project, begin a new project associated with a faculty mentor of their choosing, or switch to another faculty mentor/project currently participating in collaborations with the program.

Faculty research mentors and Olaniyan Scholars Program staff help at each stage of the development of your research by providing instruction, guidance, and feedback on improving, focusing, progressing, presenting, and polishing your work.

Note: Progressing a research project is a fundamental requirement of the program. Students who are not interested in learning about and engaging in undergraduate research work that benefits populations of African descent should not apply.

Apply to Olaniyan Scholars Program

For more information

Alice Smith Hardy
Sr. Administrative Assistant
Cavanaugh Hall 327
425 University Blvd.
(317) 274-8741
alicsmit@iu.edu

School of Liberal Arts

Olaniyan Scholars Program